The initiative is intended to foster broader representation in film composition
The US Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has partnered with UK-based music content company Mercury Studios to launch a career development programme for Black British musicians interested in composing for film.
The Jonas Gwangwa Music Composition Initiative is named after late South African musician and composer Jonas Gwangwa, an Oscar nominee in the original song and original score categories for 1987 historical drama Cry Freedom.
The one-year programme, which will begin in October and is open to UK-based Black musicians with at least three years of work experience,...
The US Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has partnered with UK-based music content company Mercury Studios to launch a career development programme for Black British musicians interested in composing for film.
The Jonas Gwangwa Music Composition Initiative is named after late South African musician and composer Jonas Gwangwa, an Oscar nominee in the original song and original score categories for 1987 historical drama Cry Freedom.
The one-year programme, which will begin in October and is open to UK-based Black musicians with at least three years of work experience,...
- 7/7/2022
- by John Hazelton
- ScreenDaily
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has announced the launch of the Jonas Gwangwa Music Composition Initiative, a program to help Black British musicians who are interested in developing a career in film composing.
The program begins in October and is in partnership with Mercury Studios. In celebration of the late South African musician, composer and Oscar nominee Jonas Gwangwa (“Cry Freedom”), the program will provide real-world experience, one-on-one mentorship and networking opportunities.
Part of the Academy’s ongoing Aperture 2025 global outreach and engagement efforts, the initiative aims to foster broader representation in film music composition, with an emphasis on Black British talent. The initiative was spearheaded by U.K.-based Academy members Gary Yershon (Music Branch), Misan Sagay (Writers Branch) and Nainita Desai (Music Branch).
“This initiative seeks to correct an imbalance. In contrast to the major contributions Black musicians are making to the music industry in the U.
The program begins in October and is in partnership with Mercury Studios. In celebration of the late South African musician, composer and Oscar nominee Jonas Gwangwa (“Cry Freedom”), the program will provide real-world experience, one-on-one mentorship and networking opportunities.
Part of the Academy’s ongoing Aperture 2025 global outreach and engagement efforts, the initiative aims to foster broader representation in film music composition, with an emphasis on Black British talent. The initiative was spearheaded by U.K.-based Academy members Gary Yershon (Music Branch), Misan Sagay (Writers Branch) and Nainita Desai (Music Branch).
“This initiative seeks to correct an imbalance. In contrast to the major contributions Black musicians are making to the music industry in the U.
- 7/7/2022
- by Jazz Tangcay
- Variety Film + TV
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Film composition has historically been one of the least diverse crafts in the industry, but the Academy is launching a new program to address the deficit.
The organization has partnered with Mercury Studios, which has offices in London and Los Angeles, to launch the Jonas Gwangwa Music Composition Initiative, a yearlong development program for U.K.-based Black musicians who are interested in a film scoring career.
“This initiative seeks to correct an imbalance. In contrast to the major contributions Black musicians are making to the music industry in the U.K., their presence in the U.K. film industry is significantly lacking,” said U.K.-based Academy members Gary Yershon (music branch), Misan Sagay (writers branch) and Nainita Desai (music branch), who led the creation of the initiative, in a statement. “Through this program, we seek to build community amongst Black artists in the U.
Film composition has historically been one of the least diverse crafts in the industry, but the Academy is launching a new program to address the deficit.
The organization has partnered with Mercury Studios, which has offices in London and Los Angeles, to launch the Jonas Gwangwa Music Composition Initiative, a yearlong development program for U.K.-based Black musicians who are interested in a film scoring career.
“This initiative seeks to correct an imbalance. In contrast to the major contributions Black musicians are making to the music industry in the U.K., their presence in the U.K. film industry is significantly lacking,” said U.K.-based Academy members Gary Yershon (music branch), Misan Sagay (writers branch) and Nainita Desai (music branch), who led the creation of the initiative, in a statement. “Through this program, we seek to build community amongst Black artists in the U.
- 7/7/2022
- by Rebecca Sun
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
There’s a two-in-five chance that an African American will walk away with the Academy Award for original score on April 25, and if so, it will be only the second time a Black composer has won in that category.
That’s because two films with Black composers were nominated this year: Terence Blanchard for “Da 5 Bloods,” and Jon Batiste, one of three composers nominated for “Soul” (along with Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross). That in itself is a first: before this year, only six films featuring Black composers were even nominated.
Herbie Hancock is the only African-American composer to win in the original score category, for 1986’s “Round Midnight.” Quincy Jones has seven Oscar nominations (six of them for music) without a win, although he was honored with the prestigious Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award in 1995.
No one will argue that the Oscar odds have been against African Americans from the beginning,...
That’s because two films with Black composers were nominated this year: Terence Blanchard for “Da 5 Bloods,” and Jon Batiste, one of three composers nominated for “Soul” (along with Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross). That in itself is a first: before this year, only six films featuring Black composers were even nominated.
Herbie Hancock is the only African-American composer to win in the original score category, for 1986’s “Round Midnight.” Quincy Jones has seven Oscar nominations (six of them for music) without a win, although he was honored with the prestigious Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award in 1995.
No one will argue that the Oscar odds have been against African Americans from the beginning,...
- 4/9/2021
- by Jon Burlingame
- Variety Film + TV
Three of this year’s Oscar nominated tunes were penned by Black songwriters: Celeste reaped a bid (along with Daniel Pemberton) for “Hear My Voice” from “The Trial of the Chicago”; D’Mile, recent Grammy champ H.E.R. and Tiara Thomas collaborated on “Fight for You” from “Judas and the Black Messiah”; and supporting actor nominee Leslie Odom Jr. was cited with Nashville based singer/songwriter Sam Ashworth for “Speak Now” from “One Night in Miami.”
The first Black tunesmith to contend for Best Original Song at the Oscars was Quincy Jones who was nominated in 1967 (alongside lyricist Bob Russell) for “The Eyes of Love” from the long-forgotten “Banning.” (Jones earned the first of his four score Oscar nominations that same year for “In Cold Blood.”) He and Russell reaped another bid the following year for the title tune from “For Love of Ivy.” His last nomination to date was in 1985 for...
The first Black tunesmith to contend for Best Original Song at the Oscars was Quincy Jones who was nominated in 1967 (alongside lyricist Bob Russell) for “The Eyes of Love” from the long-forgotten “Banning.” (Jones earned the first of his four score Oscar nominations that same year for “In Cold Blood.”) He and Russell reaped another bid the following year for the title tune from “For Love of Ivy.” His last nomination to date was in 1985 for...
- 3/22/2021
- by Susan King
- Gold Derby
The Duke was top! The legendary jazz composer/musician/orchestra leader Duke Ellington made Oscar history 49 years ago when he became the first Black nominee for composing. He contended for Best Score (Musical) for the 1961 romantic drama, “Paris Blues.” It was just Ellington’s second scoring gig. Two years before, producer/director Otto Preminger hired him to do the music for his controversial courtroom drama “Anatomy of a Murder.” The Duke also did a cameo in that picture.
The newest addition to the roster of Black composers who reaped Oscar bids is Jon Batiste, who shares his nomination for “Soul” with Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross. Also cited this year is Terence Blanchard (“Da 5 Bloods”). He was nominated two years ago for his work on another Spike Lee film, “BlacKKKlansman.”
These nominees owe a tip of the hat to Ellington and several other trailblazers: Calvin Jackson, who contended as part...
The newest addition to the roster of Black composers who reaped Oscar bids is Jon Batiste, who shares his nomination for “Soul” with Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross. Also cited this year is Terence Blanchard (“Da 5 Bloods”). He was nominated two years ago for his work on another Spike Lee film, “BlacKKKlansman.”
These nominees owe a tip of the hat to Ellington and several other trailblazers: Calvin Jackson, who contended as part...
- 3/20/2021
- by Susan King
- Gold Derby
The Academy music branch made Oscar history yesterday by nominating two films with Black composers for best original score: “Soul” and “Da 5 Bloods.”
Previously, only six films featuring Black composers were even nominated in the entire 86-year history of the category: “In Cold Blood,” “Shaft,” “The Color Purple,” “Round Midnight,” “Cry Freedom” and “BlacKkKlansman.”
Herbie Hancock remains the only African-American composer to win in this category, for his jazz-filled “Round Midnight” score in 1986. Terence Blanchard (pictured at left), composer of “Da 5 Bloods,” becomes only the second Black composer to be nominated twice.
The late soul genius Isaac Hayes was the first to be nominated, for his groundbreaking “Shaft” score in 1971; he lost the score award that year but won song honors for his now-iconic title theme. South African jazz musician Jonas Gwangwa was nominated (along with composer George Fenton) for the anti-apartheid drama “Cry Freedom” in 1987.
Three composers...
Previously, only six films featuring Black composers were even nominated in the entire 86-year history of the category: “In Cold Blood,” “Shaft,” “The Color Purple,” “Round Midnight,” “Cry Freedom” and “BlacKkKlansman.”
Herbie Hancock remains the only African-American composer to win in this category, for his jazz-filled “Round Midnight” score in 1986. Terence Blanchard (pictured at left), composer of “Da 5 Bloods,” becomes only the second Black composer to be nominated twice.
The late soul genius Isaac Hayes was the first to be nominated, for his groundbreaking “Shaft” score in 1971; he lost the score award that year but won song honors for his now-iconic title theme. South African jazz musician Jonas Gwangwa was nominated (along with composer George Fenton) for the anti-apartheid drama “Cry Freedom” in 1987.
Three composers...
- 3/16/2021
- by Jon Burlingame
- Variety Film + TV
Terence Blanchard has composed movie scores for decades, going all the way back to Spike Lee‘s “Jungle Fever” (1991). He has written music for numerous other Spike Lee joints, as well as “Eve’s Bayou” (1997), “Love and Basketball” (2000), “Cadillac Records” (2008) and many more, but his Oscar nomination for “BlacKkKlansman” is the first of his career. Perhaps even more surprising, it’s the first nomination for a black composer in 31 years, and he would be only the second ever to win.
The only black winner in history was musician Herbie Hancock for “Round Midnight” (1986). A couple of years before that Prince won for his score for “Purple Rain” (1984), but that was in the now-defunct Best Song Score category, not for an instrumental score. Immediately after Hancock’s historic victory, South African musician Jonas Gwangwa was nominated alongside George Fenton for scoring “Cry Freedom” (1987). But that was it. No black composer was nominated again until now.
The only black winner in history was musician Herbie Hancock for “Round Midnight” (1986). A couple of years before that Prince won for his score for “Purple Rain” (1984), but that was in the now-defunct Best Song Score category, not for an instrumental score. Immediately after Hancock’s historic victory, South African musician Jonas Gwangwa was nominated alongside George Fenton for scoring “Cry Freedom” (1987). But that was it. No black composer was nominated again until now.
- 2/18/2019
- by Daniel Montgomery
- Gold Derby
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